Rotary engine.



No. 690,379. Patented Dec. 3!, I991.

J. W. SUNDERLAND.

ROTARY ENGINE.

(Application filed Mar. 29, 1901.

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(No Model.)

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N0. 690,379. Patented D80. 3|, IQ UI.

' J. W. SUNDERLAND.

RDTABY ENGINE.

(Applicntioa filed Mar. 29, 1901. (No Model.) 5 Shuts-Sheet 2.

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J. W. SUNDERLAND.

ROTARY ENGINE.

Application filed Mar. 29, 1901.]

(No Model.)

No. 690,379. 3 Patented Dec. 3|, I901. J. W. SUNDERLAND.

'BOTARY ENGINE.

(Application filed Mar. 29, 1901.) (No Model.) I 5 Sheets-Shoat 4.

N0. 690,379. PatefitedKDec. 31, I901.

J. W. SUNDEBLAND.

ROTARY ENGINE.

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7 (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

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lllllll Illlllilllllill lllllllllllllll I/ AM? aenzar V UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE.

JESSE \V. SUNDERLAND, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO A.J. MCDUFFEE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ROTARY ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 690,379, dated December31, 1901.

Application filed March 29, 1901 Serial No. 53,457. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J ESSE W. SUNDERLAND, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented a new and useful Im provement in Rotary Engines,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates particularly to that class of rotary engines inwhich are employed IO a central stationary part or core provided with anabutment or abutments confining the steam or fluid in one direction andan inclosing rotary part provided with movable abutments or pistonmembers against which the steam acts to produce rotation.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an engine of thisclass of improved general construction, particular attention being paidto the features of simplicity, reverzo sibility, and positive control ofsteam admission, both as to an absolute cut-off for expansion purposesgenerally and as to automatic regulation of the quantity of steamadmitted under varying working conditions where the engine is used forother than traction purposes.

In the accompanying drawings the invention is shown embodied in the formof a reversible double or twin engine, the central o stationary corebeing provided with two peripheral stationary abutments lying betweendifierent transverse planes and at an angle of one hundred and eightydegrees to each other and the inclosing rotary cylinder being di videdtransversely by an internal ring or flange, so as to afford anexpansion-chamber corresponding to each stationary abutment. The centralcore is provided with exhaustports and an exhaust-valve, whileadmission- 0 ports are provided in the rotary cylinder and preferablythrough the movable abutments carried by said cylinder.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a broken plan view of the engine;Fig. 2, a view taken as indicated at line A of Fig. 3; Fig, 3, alongitudinal section taken as indicated at line B of Figs. 5, 7, and 8;Fig. 4, a broken view of the exhaust-valve; Fig. 5, a transverse sectiontaken as indicated at line C of Fig. 3; Fig. 6, a broken view, in sideelevation,

of one of the two central core-sections employed Fig. 7, a brokensection taken as indicated at line D of Figs. 5 and 8, and Fig. 8 asection taken as indicated at line E of Figs. 3 and 7.

1 represents a frame provided with bean ings or shaft-supports 2 and 3;4, a fixed hollow shaft or trunnion extending through the support 2; 5,a fixed central core comprising sections 6 and 7, keyed to the shaft 4.and provided, respectively, with stationary abutments 8 and 9; 10, ahollow exhaust-valve fitting closely within the hollow shaft 4 andprovided with exhaust-ports 11 and 12, corresponding, respectively, withthe two expansion-chambers of the engine; 13, a stem for theexhaust-valve, which extends through an elbow 14 of an exhaust-pipe 15;16, an arm on the valve-stem 13; 17, an admissionpipe extending throughthe valve 10 and into a fixed plug or stub 18 at the outer end of thecore-section 7; 19, a rotary cylinder provided with ends 20 and 21 andprovided also with an internal ring or flange 22, which divides theannular space between the coresections and said cylinder into twoexpansionchambers 23 and 24; 25, a shaft rigid with the cylinder end 21and journaled in a sleeve 26, which is in turn fixed in the bearing orsupport 3 and is provided at its inner end with So an eccentric 27; 28,roller-bearings arranged between the stub 18 of the coreand a box or cupwith which the inner surface of the cylinder end is provided; 29, asteam -admission portin the head 21, the same communicating with a port30 in the stub or plug 18 and in communication with the pipe 17; 31,packing between the adjacent surfaces of the head 21 and the plug 18;32, a cup or bearing on the outer surface of the cylinderend 20; 33, acoacting race member fixed to the shaft 4; 34, roller-bearings betweenthe members 32 and 33; 35,alongitudinal enlargement with which thecylinder 19 is provided; 36 and 37, movable abutments or piston memberswhich cor- 5 respond, respectively, to the steam-chambers 23 and 24; 38and 39, plugs connected with the enlargement 35 and extending,respectively, into perforations or ports 40 and 41, with which thepiston members 36 and 37 are provided at their longitudinal centers; 104:0, plugs flanking the plug 38 and extending into perforations or ports41, with which the piston member 36 is provided; 42 42, plugstlanhingthe plug 39 and extending into perforations or ports 43,'withwhich the piston member 37 is provided; 44 45, Fig. 8, branch portscommunicating with the outerendof the port 29 and leading to valves 4647, respectively, located in the-enlargement 35 flanking the plugs abovecnu merated; 48 48,ports leading from the valve 46 to ports 49 4D in theplugs 38 and 39,respectively; 50 50,ports lead ing from the valve 47 toports 51 51 in the plugs 40 and 42, respectively; 52 53, rockarmsconnected with the stems of the valves 46 47,'respectively; 53, aconnecting-rod through the medium of which said valves are rocked; 54,aneccentric-strap mounted upon a shift-able eccentric 55, which connectsthrough a link 56 with a lever 57 on a rock-shaft 58 external to thecylinder; 59, an arm rigid With said rock-shaft and joined by a link 60to the arm 16 on the stem of the exhaust-valve; 61 61, racks with whichthe stems of the admission-valves 46 and 47 are provided; 62, a pinionjournaled in brackets 63, projecting from one end of the rotarycylinder; 64, a reciprocable rack meshing with the pinion 62, and 65 aneccentric-strap mounted on the eccentric 27 and serving to actuate therack 64.

By preference the cylinder 19 is cast in two sections, as shown, withthe ring 22 interposed and firmly secured between said sections. Thering is provided with a reduced portion 66, which projects into asuitable recess 66", with which the core-sections 6 and 7 are provided,and is flanked by suitable annular packing-rings, as shown. Adjacent tothe reduced portion 66 is an enlarged portion affording shoulders 67,which fit aboutthe circularportions of the core-sections. Thecore-sections are provided with recesses 69, Figs. 5 and 6, at theabutments Sand 9 for the enlarged portions of the ring 22 to move in.internally with enlargements or rings 70, which fitabout the circularportions of the adjacent ends of the core sections and move in suitablerecesses (not shown) provided at the abutments 8 andO. The pistonmembers 36 and 37 are shown broken away in Fig.3 to expose the shoulders67 and 70. Said piston members move in slots 71, provided in the wallsadjacent to the ends of said piston members. The piston members areprovided with shoulders 72, which engage corresponding shoulders on thecylinder, as shown in Fig. 5, to limit the inward movement of the pistonmembers. Spring-held packing-strips 73 are provided at the inner edgesof the piston members to insure close contact with the peripheries ofthe core-sections. As indicated in Figs. 3 and 5, the ports 40 and 41 ofthe piston members 36 and 37, respectively, open at one side of thepiston to admit steam to the expansion-chambers, and the ports 41 and 43open on the opposite side of said pis ton members to admit steam to saidexpan- The cylinder ends are provided sionchambers. In the positionshown in Figs. 5 and 7 the valve 46 is in communication with the ports48, while the valve 47 is out of communication with the ports 50. Inthis position of the ports steam is admitted through the valve 46 andports 48 and 40 and 50 and 41 to the expansion-chambers, as indicated bythe arrows. The core-section 6 is provided with exhaust-ports 74 and 75,the former of which is represented as closed by the valve 10, while thelatter is opened through the port 11. The core-section 7 is providedwith ports 76 and 77, the former of which is represented as closed bythe exhaustvalve, while the latter is opened through the exhaust-port12. The ports 76 and 77 are of course in that portion of thecore-section 7 which is removed from Fig. 3.

It will be understood from the foregoing description that the valves 46and 47 are capable of both rotary and longitudinal movement. The valvesare formed with closed ends and preferably have elongated eductionports78 and 79, respectively, located and arranged spirally, as shown in Fig.7. Their induction-ports are numbered 80 and 81, respectively, and theseports are always in communication with the branch admissionports 45.

The operation will be readily understood from the foregoing detaileddescription. When the lever 57isin one position, the valve 46 is openand the valve 47 closed. At the same time the ports 74 and 76 are closedby the exhaust-valve-lO, while the ports 75 and 77 are open. By shiftingthe lever 57 the eccentric 55 is moved, thereby rocking the valves 46and 47 through the medium of the connecting-rod 53 and the rock-arms 52and 53. This closes the valve 46 and opens the valve 47. At the sametime the exhaustvalve is rotated through the medium of the rock-shaft58, arm 59, link 60, and arm 16, thereby closing the ports '75 and 77and opening the ports 74 and 76. This provides for reversal of theengine. lVith the valves in the position shown in the drawings steamenters the chambers 23 and 24 through the ports 40 and 41 in the pistonmembers 36 and 37, respectively, thereby causing the rotary cylinder torotate in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig.5.. In thisposition the chamber 23 is exhausted through the port 75, while thechamber 24 is exhausted through the port 77. When the engine isreversed, steam enters the chambers 23 and 24 through the ports 41 and43 in the piston members 36 and 37, respectively, the escape of steamfrom said ports being then in a direction to reverse the movement of thecylinder 19. The abutments 8 and 9 of the stationary core are at anangle of one hundred and eighty degrees to each other, and since eachabutment occupies but a small portion of three hundred and sixtydegreesit follows that steam'will be admitted to one expansionchamber or theother in any position of the cylinder. It will be understood, therefore,

that the engine will start whenever steam is nected that said valveswill be caused to close the admission-ports at any portion of arevolution, thereby providing for expansion of the steam. The portsinthe movable piston members are so arranged that they start to open soonafter the piston members cross the high portions of the stationaryabutments, and the admission is increased gradually u ntil the pistonmembers reach the circular portions of the core, when the admissionreaches a maximum. Said ports remain open until the stationary abutmentsare again encountered, when they are gradually closed. A certain amountof steam is trapped in said ports as the piston members are forcedoutwardly by the stationary abutments, thereby cushioning said pistonmembers. It will be under stood, of course, that the admission of steamto the piston members is cut off before the stationary abutments areencountered and the piston members begin their outward movement. It thusappears that the piston members are steam-actuated in one direction ofreciprocation and are actuated in the opposite direction ofreciprocation by the stationary abut-ments, both movements being sogradual as to avoid all shock.

When the engine is used for traction purposes, no governor is ordinarilyrequired. W'hen the engine is to be used as a stationary engine,however, any suitable governor may be connected with the lever 57 andthrough the medium of said lever and of the link 56 caused toautomatically actuate the eccentric 55, whereby partial rotation of theadmission-valves will be produced and the admission therebyautomatically controlled. A link 5' 7 may form the connecting meansbetween said lever and governor. (Not shown.) It will be understood thatby locating the abntments 8 and 9 at an angle to each other not only isprovision against a deadcenter made, but the forces acting upon theengine are opposed or counterbalanced. In practice the cylinder 19 willbe provided with a counterweight located opposite the enlargement 35,though no such counterweight is shown.

Changes in details of construction within the spirit of my invention maybe made. Hence no limitation is to be understood from the foregoingdetailed description except as shall appear from the appended claims.For' instance, it will be readily understood that by suitablearrangement of the cylinder-carried ports one of the admission-valvescarried by the cylinder may be omitted.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a rotary engine, the combination with a stationary core providedwith an abutment, of an inclosing rotary cylinder provided with areciprocating piston member and. with a fluid-port,and alongitudinally-movable valve carried by said cylinder and controllingsaid port, substantially as described.

2. In a rotary engine, the combination with a stationary core providedwith an abutment, of an inclosing rotary cylinder provided with areciprocatin g piston memberand with a fluidport, and a rotaryandlongitudinallyqnovable valve carried by said cylinder and controllingsaid port, substantially as described.

3. In a rotary engine, the combination with a fixed central core havingan abutment, of an inclosing cylinder provided with a reciprocatingpiston member, said piston member being provided with a port and saidcylinder being provided with a port communicating therewith, and a valvecarried by said cylinder and controlling the port of said cylinder,substantially as described.

4. In a rotary engine, the combination with a stationary core providedwith an abutment, of an inclosing rotary cylinder forming with said corea pressure-chamber, a reciprocating piston member carried by saidcylinder and provided with a port opening at one side of the pistonmember to permit fluid to enter said pressure-chamber, and a valvedadmission-port in the cylinder leading to the ad mission-port in saidpiston member, whereby fluid may be admitted to cause rotation,substantially as described.

5. In a rotary engine, the combination with a stationary core providedwith an abutment, of an inclosing rotary cylinder forming with said corea pressure-chamber, a reciprocating piston member carried by saidcylinder and provided with a port opening at one side of the pistonmember to permit fluid to enter said pressure-chamber and provided withanother port opening at the opposite side of said piston member, andvalved admission-ports in the cylinder leading to the admission-ports insaid piston member, whereby fluid may be admitted to cause rotation ineither direction, at will, substantially as described.-

6 In a rotary engine, the combination with a fixed core provided with anabutment, of a rotary cylinder provided with a reciprocating pistonmember, an ad mission-valve carried by said cylinder, a fixed eccentric,an'eccentrio-strap mounted thereon and rotating with said cylinder, andconnection between said eccentric-strap and valve, whereby the valve isautomatically reciprocated at each revolution, substantially asdescribed.

7. In a rotary engine, the combination with a fixed core provided withan abutment, of a rotary cylinder provided with a reciprocating pistonmember, an admission-valve carried by said cylinder, a fixed eccentric,an eccentric-strap mounted thereon and rotating with.

said cylinder, connecting means between'said' eccentric-strap and valvefor effecting a longitudinal movement of the valve, a shiftableeccentric and connecting means between said valve and last-namedeccentric for effecting a partial rotation of the valve, substantiallyas described.

8. In a reversible rotary engine, the combination with a fixed centralcore provided with an abutment, of a rotary cylinder forming with saidcore a pressure-chamber, a reciprocating piston member carried by saidcylinder, said cylinder being provided with ports for admitting fluid toopposite sides of said piston member, and a rotary andlongitudinally-movable valve carried by said cylinder, one movement ofsaid valve aiding to effect a reversal of the engine, and the othermovement thereof to effect a cut-01f for the same, substantially asdescribed.

9. In a rotary engine, the combination with a fixed central coreprovided with an abutment, of an inclosing rotary cylinder formingtherewith a pressure-chamber, a reciprocating piston member carried bysaid cylin der, said cylinder being provided with an admission-port, avalve controlling said ad'- mission-port and provided at its stem with arack, a pinion engaging said rack, a radiallyniovable rack engaging saidpinion, and eccentric means for moving said last-named rack at eachrevolution of the cylinder, thereby to cause a reciprocation of saidvalve, substantially as described.

10. In a rotary engine, the combination with a fixed central coreprovided with an abutment,of an inclosing rotary cylinder provided withan admission-port, a fluid-seated reciprocating piston member carried bysaid cylinder, said cylinder being provided with a port leading to saidpiston member, a valve controlling said port, said cylinder and pistonmember being provided with shoulders for limiting the inward movement ofthe piston member, and a yieldingly-held packing-strip at the inner endof said piston member and contacting with said core, substantially asdescribed.

11. In a rotary engine, the combination with a fixed central coreprovided with an abutment and with exhaust-ports, of an exhaustvalvecontrolling said exhaust-ports, a rotary cylinder forming with said corea pressurechamber, and a reciprocating piston member carried by saidcylinder and provided with ports opening on opposite sides of the pistonmember into said pressurechamber, said cylinder being provided withvalved ports communicating with the ports in said piston member,substantially as described.

12. In a rotary engine, the combination of a fixed central hollowshaft,'a core fixed therehaust-port, an inclosing rotary cylinderprovided with a reciprocating piston member and an admission-port,antifriction-bearing be tween one end of said cylinder and said shaft, aplug or stub at the opposite end of said core, antifriction-bearingbetween said stub and the adjacent cylinder end, a central admissionpipeleading through said hollow shaft and communicating with theadmission-port of said cylinder, a valve carried by said cylinder andcontrolling the admission, and a shaft connected with the cylinder endadjacent to said stub, substantially as described.

13. In a rotary engine, the combination of a fixed central core providedwith an abutment and with exhaust-ports leading from the periphery ofsaid core at opposite sides of said abutment, a central exhaust-valve,an inclosing rotary cylinder provided with a reciprocating piston memberand with two admission-ports opening at opposite sides of said pistonmember, admission-valve means carried by said cylinder, and areversing-lever serving to simultaneously actuate said admission andexhaust valves, thereby to effect a reversal of the engine,substantially as described.

14. In a rotary engine, the combination of a fixed core provided withtwo abutmen'ts lying between diiferent transverse planes and at an angleof approximately one hundred and eighty degrees to each other, aninclosing rotary cylinder forming with said core two pressure-chambers,and two reciprocating cylinder-carried piston members,one correspondingto each pressure-chamber, substantially as described.

15. In a rotary engine, the combination of a fixed core provided withtwo abutments lying between different transverse planes and at an angleof approximately one hundred and eighty degrees to each other, aninclosing rotary cylinder forming with said core two pressure-chambers,two reciprocating cylinder-carried piston members, one correspond ing toeach pressure-chamber, and valved admission-ports for the two chambers,whereby fluid of the same pressure is received by both chambers from acommon source, substam tially as described.

16. In arotary engine,the combination with a stationary core providedwith an abutment, of an inclosing rotary cylinder provided with areciprocating piston member and with a fluid-port,and alongitudinally-movable valve carried by said cylinder and controllingsaid port, said valve being disposed parallel to the axis of saidcylinder, substantially as described.

JESSE W. SUNDERLAND. In presence of D. WV. LEE, ALBERT D. EACH.

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